Mobile station, radio base station, and communication control method

ABSTRACT

A mobile station UE in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is a mobile station for communicating with a radio base station using two or more carriers. The two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuous reception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state. The mobile station includes a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state and a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state. The first communicating unit treats intervals before and after an on-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state as measurement gaps.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a mobile station, a radio base station,and a communication control method.

BACKGROUND ART

As a successor of a WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiplexing Access)system, an HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) system, and anHSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) system, an LTE (Long TermEvolution) system has been considered and standardized by 3GPP (The 3rdGeneration Partnership Project), which is a standardization organizationof WCDMA.

Furthermore, as a successor of the LTE system, an LTE-advanced system isunder consideration by 3GPP. The requirements for the LTE-advancedsystem are summarized in TS 36.913 (V8.0.1).

As one of the requirements in the LTE-advanced system, an agreement isreached that carrier aggregation is applied. When carrier aggregation isapplied, a mobile station UE can receive downlink signals simultaneouslyusing plural carriers or transmit uplink signals simultaneously usingplural carriers. Each carrier used in carrier aggregation is referred toas a “component carrier”.

The plural component carriers are categorized into a primary componentcarrier as a main carrier and one or more secondary component carriersother than the primary component carrier.

When a mobile station UE performs communications always using theprimary component carrier and the secondary component carriers, aproblem arises that power consumption becomes higher in proportion tothe number of component carriers. As used herein, communicating usingthe primary component carrier and the secondary component carriersincludes usual data transmission and reception, cell search ormeasurement on the respective carriers, and radio link monitoring.

For example, the cell search includes establishing synchronization indownlink using downlink synchronization signals in a serving cell and anadjacent cell. Since cell search is the processing for detecting adestination cell (target cell) while a mobile station UE is moving, themobile station UE periodically needs to perform cell search. Forexample, the measurement includes measuring received power (morespecifically, RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) or the like) ofreference signals in a serving cell and an adjacent cell. It should benoted that the combined processing of cell search and measurement may bereferred to as “measurement”. The radio link monitoring includesmeasuring radio quality (more specifically, SIR (Signal-to-InterferenceRatio)) of reference signals in a serving cell, determining whether theSIR is above a predetermined threshold, and determining that the servingcell is in out-of-synchronization when the SIR is below thepredetermined threshold. The processing associated with cell search,measurement, and radio link monitoring and their performance definitionsare described in 3GPP TS 36.213 V8.8.0 (2009-09) and 3GPP TS 36.133V8.7.0 (2009-09), for example.

In order to address the problem of power consumption, it is consideredthat control of activation/de-activation is applied in a secondarycomponent carrier, for example. For example, on a secondary componentcarrier in a de-activation state, a mobile station UE does not performusual data transmission and reception and reduces the frequencies ofcell search, measurement, and radio link monitoring, thereby saving thebattery. The processing of de-activation on a secondary componentcarrier is performed when the amount of data to be communicated issmall, for example.

In the LTE system, discontinuous reception (DRX) control is applied inorder to save the battery in a mobile station CE (see 3GPP TS 36.321V8.7.0 (2009-09)). Discontinuous reception control in the LTE system isapplied when a radio base station eNB and a mobile station UE are in aconnected state and there are no data to be transmitted. A mobilestation UE in a discontinuous reception state is configured toperiodically, that is, intermittently, receive downlink control signalstransmitted via a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel). Theduration in which the downlink control signals are received via thePDCCH is referred to as an “on-duration” (ON interval or receptioninterval). Typically, cell search, measurement, and radio linkmonitoring are performed in the on-duration. Since a mobile station UEneed only receive downlink signals transmitted via the PDCCHintermittently, rather than at all timings, and thus needs only tointermittently perform cell search, measurement, and radio linkmonitoring, power consumption of the battery can be reduced.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a mobile station UE is configuredto perform reception of the PDCCH, cell search, measurement, radio linkmonitoring, and so on only during a reception interval (5 ms in theexample of FIG. 1) provided for each DRX period (1280 ms in the exampleof FIG. 1) and turn off the transceiver during the other interval. As aresult, the mobile station UE can reduce power consumption of thebattery.

In addition, in the LTE system, a measurement gap is defined in order toperform measurement on a carrier with a different frequency or a carrierfor a different radio communication system (see 3GPP TS 36.331 V8.8.0(2009-12)). The length of the measurement gap is defined as 6 ms and itsperiodicity is defined as 40 ms or 80 ms, for example. During themeasurement gap, a mobile station UE suspends communications in aserving cell and performs measurement on a carrier with a differentfrequency or a carrier for a different radio communication system.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention

As described above, when carrier aggregation is applied, it isconsidered that de-activation is applied in a secondary componentcarrier.

In this case, a mobile station UE performs communications only on aprimary component carrier in an ordinary state. Only when the mobilestation UE performs cell search, measurement, and radio link monitoring,the mobile station UE performs communications on both the primarycomponent carrier and the secondary component carrier.

However, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mobile station UE needs tochange the center frequency of the receiver between the case where themobile station UE performs communications only on the primary componentcarrier and the case where the mobile station UE performs communicationson both the primary component carrier and the secondary componentcarrier, for example. As a result, at the time of the change between thecase where the mobile station UE performs communications only on theprimary component carrier and the case where the mobile station UEperforms communications on both the primary component carrier and thesecondary component carrier, a problem arises that the mobile station UEcannot transmit and receive data on the primary component carrier. Forexample, the state in which the mobile station UE cannot transmit andreceive data may include a state in which data to be transmitted andreceived are lost.

In other words, when the mobile station UE receives plural componentcarriers using a single receiver, the change of the center frequency ofthe receiver occurs when the number of component carriers to be receivedvaries, for example. As a result, the mobile station UE cannot transmitand receive data at the time of the change.

Since the time when the mobile station UE performs cell search,measurement, and radio link monitoring typically depends on theimplementation of the mobile station UE, the radio base station eNBcannot recognize when data are lost.

In view of the problem as described above, it is a general object of thepresent invention to provide a mobile station, a radio base station, anda communication control method for making a system more efficient andachieving stability of connections, by saving a battery when carrieraggregation is applied while appropriately performing cell search,measurement, or the like on each component carrier.

Means for Solving the Problem(s)

In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobilestation for communicating with a radio base station using two or morecarriers, including:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein

the first communicating unit treats intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided acommunication control method in a mobile station for communicating witha radio base station using two or more carriers, including:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first step of performing communications on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; and

a second step of performing communications on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; wherein

the first step comprises treating intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a radiobase station for communicating with a mobile station using two or morecarriers, including:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein

the first communicating unit treats intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided acommunication control method in a radio base station for communicatingwith a mobile station using two or more carriers, including:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first step of performing communications on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; and

a second step of performing communications on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; wherein

the first step comprises treating intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobilestation for communicating with a radio base station using two or morecarriers, comprising:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein

the second communicating unit treats intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps and performs measurement on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state during the interval before the on-durationon the carrier in the discontinuous reception state.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobilestation, a radio base station, and a communication control method formaking a system more efficient and achieving stability of connections,by saving a battery when carrier aggregation is applied whileappropriately performing cell search, measurement, or the like on eachcomponent carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a diagram for illustrating discontinuous reception controlin a conventional mobile communication system.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram for illustrating the center frequency of areceiver when both a primary component carrier and a secondary componentcarrier are received.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram for illustrating the center frequency of areceiver when only a primary component carrier is received.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram for illustrating component carriers in a mobilecommunication system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 shows a diagram for illustrating operations in a mobile stationand a radio base station in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention (where receiver change intervals are the same).

FIG. 6 shows a diagram for illustrating operations in a mobile stationand a radio base station in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention (where receiver change intervals are different).

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a mobile station in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a radio base station in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of a communication control method in a mobilestation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of another communication control method in amobile station in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of a communication control method in a radiobase station in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of another communication control method in aradio base station in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 shows a diagram illustrating an SCC measurement interval used ina modified embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Configuration of aMobile Communication System in Accordance with an Embodiment of thePresent Invention

A mobile communication system in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention is described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. Throughout the figures for illustrating the embodiments of thepresent invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same orequivalent elements and their repeated descriptions may be omitted.

For example, the mobile communication system in accordance with thisembodiment is an LTE-advanced system. In other words, the mobilecommunication system in accordance with this embodiment includes a radiobase station eNB and a mobile station UE for communicating with theradio base station eNB, and the radio base station eNB and the mobilestation UE perform communications according to the LTE-Advanced scheme.The mobile station UE may be also referred to as a “user equipment”terminal.

Communication channels used in the mobile communication system inaccordance with this embodiment are described below.

In the mobile communication system in accordance with this embodiment, aPDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) shared by mobile stations UEand a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) are used in downlink.

User data (i.e. typical data signals) are transmitted via the PDSCH.

Control signals such as an ID of a mobile station UE for performingcommunications using the PDSCH and transport format information of userdata (i.e. downlink scheduling information) as well as an ID of a mobilestation UE for performing communications using a PUSCH (Physical UplinkShared Channel) and transport format information of user data (i.e.uplink scheduling grant) are transmitted via the PDCCH.

The PDCCH may be also referred to as a “Downlink L1/L2 Control Channel”.The downlink scheduling information and the uplink scheduling grant arecollectively referred to as “downlink control information (DCI)”.

In downlink, broadcast information is mapped to a BCCH (BroadcastControl Channel) as a logical channel and transmitted.

Part of information to be transmitted via the BCCH is mapped to a BCH(Broadcast Channel) as a transport channel. Information mapped to theBCH is transmitted to mobile stations UE within the corresponding cellvia a P-BCH (Physical Broadcast Channel) as a physical channel.

Part of information to be transmitted via the BCCH is also mapped to aDL-SCH (Downlink Shared Channel) as a transport channel. Informationmapped to the DL-SCH is transmitted to mobile stations UE within thecorresponding cell via the PDSCH as a physical channel.

In the mobile communication system in accordance with this embodiment, aPUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel) shared by mobile stations UE anda PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) are used in uplink.

User data (i.e. typical data signals) are transmitted via the PUSCH.

Downlink quality information (CQI: Channel Quality Indicator) used forscheduling processing and AMCS (Adaptive Modulation and Coding Scheme)of the PDSCH and acknowledgement information for the PUSCH aretransmitted via the PUCCH.

The downlink quality information may be also referred to as a “CSI(Channel State Indicator)”, which is an indicator collectivelyrepresenting a CQI, a PMI (Pre-coding Matrix Indicator), and a RI (RankIndicator).

The acknowledgement information is expressed as either ACK(Acknowledgement) indicating that a transmission signal is successfullyreceived or NACK (Negative Acknowledgement) indicating that atransmission signal is not successfully received.

When carrier aggregation as described below is applied, operations inthe communication channels used in the mobile communicate system inaccordance with this embodiment may be performed on a single componentcarrier or across plural component carriers. For example, downlinkscheduling information may be transmitted on one component carrier andthe PDSCH corresponding to this downlink scheduling information may betransmitted on another component carrier. Alternatively, an uplinkscheduling grant may be transmitted on one component carrier and thePUSCH corresponding to this uplink scheduling grant may be transmittedon another component carrier.

In the LTE-Advanced system, carrier aggregation may be applied. In otherwords, communications in uplink or downlink are performed using pluralcomponent carriers.

A component carrier corresponds to a single system carrier in an LTEsystem. In the LTE system, communications are performed on a singlecomponent carrier. In the LTE-Advanced system, on the other hand,communications may be performed on two or more component carriers.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a cell (first communication area) inwhich a first component carrier (F1 in FIG. 4) is used geographicallyoverlaps with a cell (second communication area) in which a secondcomponent carrier (F2 in FIG. 4) is used in the mobile communicationsystem in accordance with this embodiment. Although FIG. 4 shows thatthe first communication area almost coincides with the secondcommunication area, the first communication area may at least partiallyoverlap with the second communication area.

Although not shown in FIG. 4, a third component carrier may be used inaddition to the first component carrier and the second componentcarrier. Alternatively, four or more component carriers may be used.

In the following description, it is assumed that carrier aggregation isapplied using a first component carrier (hereinafter referred to as a“first carrier”) and a second component carrier (hereinafter referred toas a “second carrier”).

Regarding the first carrier and the second carrier, it is also assumedthat discontinuous reception control is applied in each componentcarrier, the first carrier is in a non-discontinuous reception state(Non-DRX state), and the second carrier is in a discontinuous state (DRXstate). In other words, on the first carrier, usual data transmissionand reception are performed, and cell search, measurement, and radiolink monitoring are performed without reducing their frequencies. On thesecond carrier, on the other hand, usual data transmission and receptionare not basically performed, and the frequencies of cell search,measurement, and radio link monitoring are reduced.

It should be noted that radio link monitoring may not be performed.Since a mobile station UE can reduce workload for processing on thesecond carrier (i.e. workload for cell search, measurement, and radiolink monitoring), the mobile station UE can save the battery.

The first carrier may be a primary component carrier and the secondcarrier may be a secondary component carrier.

The Non-DRX state as described above may be a state in which a parameterassociated with discontinuous reception control is not configured, astate in which a parameter associated with discontinuous receptioncontrol is configured and a timer for discontinuous reception control isin an operating state, a state in which a parameter associated withdiscontinuous reception control is configured and a scheduling requestis in a pending state, a state in which a parameter associated withdiscontinuous reception control is configured and a timing for uplinkHARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) retransmission is provided, or astate in which a parameter associated with discontinuous receptioncontrol is configured and a downlink control signal for initialtransmission destined for the own station is not received after a randomaccess response for a specified preamble is received. In addition, theDRX state may be a state other than the Non-DRX state.

The DRX state may be a state in which data transmission and receptionare intermittently performed or a state in which data transmission andreception and measurement on the carrier are intermittently performed.More generally, the DRX state may be a state in which measurement on thecarrier is intermittently performed.

With reference to FIG. 5, operations in a mobile station and a radiobase station in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventionare described below. More specifically, when a component carrier (firstcarrier) in a non-discontinuous state and a component carrier (secondcarrier) in a discontinuous state are used, operations on the componentcarrier (first carrier) in the non-discontinuous state and the componentcarrier (second carrier) in the discontinuous state are describedconsidering an on-duration (ON interval) on the component carrier(second carrier) in the discontinuous state.

In FIG. 5, on the second carrier, an on-duration (ON interval) isprovided for each DRX period. In this example, the on-duration isreferred to as an interval A and the duration in the DRX period otherthan the on-duration is referred to as an interval B. For example, theDRX period may be defined as 256 ms, 512 ms, or 1280 ms. For example,the DRX period may be defined as any value other than these values. TheDRX period can be used to control the extent to which a mobile stationUE saves the battery.

On the second carrier, the mobile station UE is configured to performcell search, measurement, radio link monitoring, and so on and toreceive downlink control signals transmitted via the PDCCH only duringthe interval A. In addition, on the second carrier, the mobile stationUE is configured not to perform cell search, measurement, and radio linkmonitoring and not to receive downlink control signals during theinterval B. Since the mobile station UE performs processing on thesecond carrier only during the interval A, the battery can be saved. Itshould be noted that the downlink control signals include downlinkscheduling information and an uplink scheduling grant as describedabove, for example.

On the first carrier, on the other hand, the mobile station UE performsusual data transmission and reception, cell search, and radio linkmonitoring regardless of during the interval A or B, because the firstcarrier is the component carrier in the non-discontinuous receptionstate.

Regarding operations in the radio base station eNB and the mobilestation UE in accordance with this embodiment, receiver change intervalsare provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuousreception control on the second carrier, in order to avoid data loss inconnection with the change of the center frequency of the receiver, forexample, as described with reference to FIG. 2.

In other words, the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB mayperform communication processing on the first carrier, assuming thatdata transmission and reception on the first carrier are not allowedduring predetermined intervals provided before and after the on-durationfor discontinuous reception control on the second carrier, because thereceiver in the mobile station UE changes the center frequency, forexample. The predetermined intervals (i.e. receiver change intervals)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier are hereinafter referred to as “gapintervals” for the on-duration. It should be noted that thecommunication processing on the first carrier may include measurement,cell search, radio link monitoring, or the like on the first carrier, inaddition to data transmission and reception on the first carrier, forexample. The data transmission and reception on the first carrier may bedownlink data reception and uplink data transmission from the viewpointof the mobile terminal UE, or downlink data transmission and uplink datareception from the viewpoint of the radio base station eNB. The combinedprocessing of measurement and cell search may be referred to as“measurement”.

For example, the mobile station UE may be configured not to performdownlink reception, uplink transmission, cell search, measurement, andradio link monitoring on the first carrier during the receiver changeintervals. The radio base station eNB may be configured not to performdownlink transmission and uplink reception for the mobile station UE onthe first carrier during the receiver change intervals. In addition, theradio base station eNB may be configured to perform uplink and downlinkscheduling on the first carrier such that downlink transmission anduplink reception on the first carrier are not performed during thereceiver change intervals.

The mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB may be configuredto perform communication processing on the first carrier, assuming thatthe receiver change intervals correspond to measurement gaps. Forexample, performing communication processing on the first carrierassuming that the receiver change intervals correspond to measurementgaps may include not performing data transmission and reception, cellsearch, measurement, radio link monitoring, or the like on the firstcarrier during the receiver change intervals, as described above. Thesemeasurement gaps may be time intervals provided for measuring a carrierwith a different frequency or a carrier for a different radiocommunication system.

In addition, the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB mayperform communication processing on the second carrier assuming thatdata transmission and reception on the second carrier are not allowedduring the predetermined intervals (i.e. the gap intervals for theon-duration) provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuousreception control on the second carrier, because the receiver in themobile station UE changes the center frequency, for example. It shouldbe noted that the communication processing on the second carrier mayinclude data transmission and reception or the like on the secondcarrier, for example. The data transmission and reception on the secondcarrier may be downlink data reception and uplink data transmission fromthe viewpoint of the mobile terminal UE, or downlink data transmissionand uplink data reception from the viewpoint of the radio base stationeNB.

For example, the mobile station UE may be configured not to performdownlink reception and uplink transmission on the second carrier duringthe receiver change intervals. The radio base station eNB may beconfigured not to perform downlink transmission and uplink reception forthe mobile station UE on the second carrier during the receiver changeintervals. In addition, the radio base station eNB may be configured toperform uplink and downlink scheduling on the second carrier such thatdownlink transmission and uplink reception on the second carrier are notperformed during the receiver change intervals.

The mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB may be configuredto perform communication processing on the second carrier, assuming thatthe receiver change intervals correspond to measurement gaps. Forexample, performing communication processing on the second carrierassuming that the receiver change intervals correspond to measurementgaps may include not performing data transmission and reception on thesecond carrier during the receiver change intervals, as described above.These measurement gaps may be time intervals provided for measuring acarrier with a different frequency or a carrier for a different radiocommunication system.

The predetermined intervals (i.e. receiver change intervals or gapduration for the on-duration) provided before and after the on-durationmay be also referred to as “transceiver change intervals”, consideringthat the change of the transmitter in addition to the change of thereceiver may be made. Alternatively, these predetermined intervalsprovided before and after the on-duration may be also referred to as“measurement gaps” accompanied with the on-duration, because they areprovided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol. Alternatively, these predetermined intervals provided beforeand after the on-duration may be also referred to as “measurement gaps”synonymous with commonly-known measurement gaps.

For example, the predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for theon-duration) provided before and after the on-duration may be defined as1 ms or 2 ms. Alternatively, the gap periods for the on-duration may bedefined as any value other than 1 ms and 2 ms.

Regarding the predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for theon-duration) provided before and after the on-duration, the intervalprovided before the on-duration may be longer than the interval providedafter the on-duration, as shown in FIG. 6. An effect of defining theinterval provided before the on-duration longer than the intervalprovided after the on-duration is described below.

For example, the predetermined interval provided before the on-durationand the predetermined interval provided after the on-duration may bespecifically defined as 6 ms and 1 ms, respectively. Alternatively, thepredetermined interval provided before the on-duration and thepredetermined interval provided after the on-duration may bespecifically defined as 4 ms and 2 ms, respectively, or defined as anyvalues provided that the predetermined interval provided before theon-duration is longer than the predetermined interval provided after theon-duration.

The predetermined time intervals (i.e. gap intervals for theon-duration) provided before and after the on-duration may be appliedonly when the first carrier and the second carrier belong to the samefrequency band and may not be applied when the first carrier and thesecond carrier belong to different frequency bands.

When the first carrier and the second carrier belong to differentfrequency bands, the mobile station UE typically includes differentreceivers for the first carrier and the second carrier. Thus, the changeof the center frequency as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 does not occur, and asa result, data are not lost. Accordingly, when the first carrier and thesecond carrier belong to different frequency bands, the predeterminedperiods provided before and after the on-duration are not needed. Inother words, only when the first carrier and the second carrier belongto the same frequency band, the gap intervals for the on-duration areprovided, and when the first carrier and the second carrier belong todifferent frequency bands, the gap intervals for the on-duration are notprovided. In this manner, the gap intervals for the on-duration can beprovided only when needed, and accordingly the efficiency of the systemcan be improved.

It should be noted that the on-duration on the second carrier isprovided only when the second carrier is in the DRX state and is notprovided when the second carrier is in the Non-DRX state. When thesecond carrier is in the Non-DRX state, the center frequency of thereceiver in the mobile station UE is always configured as shown in FIG.2. Thus, the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB canperform communications on the first carrier and the second carrierwithout considering the gap intervals for the on-duration. As a result,when both the first carrier and the second carrier are in the Non-DRXstate, the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB can performcommunications on the first carrier and the second carrier without usinggap intervals for measurement, and accordingly the loss of throughputcan be avoided.

As shown in FIG. 7, a mobile station UE includes a first communicatingunit 102, a second communicating unit 104, a DRX control unit 106, and agap unit 108. The first communicating unit 102 includes a first downlinkreceiving unit 102A, a first uplink transmitting unit 102B, and a firstmeasuring unit 102C. The second communicating unit 104 includes a seconddownlink receiving unit 104A, a second uplink transmitting unit 104B,and a second measuring unit 104C.

It should be noted that FIG. 7 shows functional units associated withbaseband processing in the mobile station UE, but does not showfunctional units associated with RF (radio frequency) processing in themobile station UE. Since the receiver shown in FIG. 2 or 3 includesfunctional units associated with RF processing, these units are notshown in FIG. 7. The configuration of the mobile station UE inaccordance with this embodiment can be used regardless of the functionalunits associated with RF processing.

The first communicating unit 102, the first downlink receiving unit102A, the first uplink transmitting unit 102B, the first measuring unit102C, the second communicating unit 104, the second downlink receivingunit 104A, the second uplink transmitting unit 104B, the secondmeasuring unit 104C, the DRX control unit 106, and the gap control unit108 are connected with each other.

The first communicating unit 102 performs communications related to afirst carrier. For example, the first communicating unit 102 performsdownlink reception and uplink transmission on the first carrier, andcell search, measurement, radio link monitoring, or the like on thefirst carrier.

As described above, the first communicating unit 102 may be configurednot to perform communications related to the first carrier duringpredetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on a second carrier.

The first downlink receiving unit 102A receives downlink signals on thefirst carrier. For example, the downlink signals may be the PDSCH or thePDCCH. Alternatively, the downlink signals may be signals on a P-BCH asbroadcast information, signals on a PSS (Primary Synchronization Signal)or an SSS (Secondary Synchronization Signal) as synchronization signals,or downlink reference signals.

As described above, the first downlink receiving unit 102A may beconfigured not to receive downlink Signals on the first carrier duringthe predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

The first uplink transmitting unit 102B transmits uplink signals on thefirst carrier. For example, the uplink signals may be signals on thePUSCH or the PUCCH. Alternatively, the uplink signals may be soundingreference signals, demodulation reference signals, or signals on arandom access channel.

As described above, the first uplink-transmitting unit 102B may beconfigured not to transmit uplink signals on the first carrier duringthe predetermined intervals gap intervals for the on-duration) providedbefore and after the on-duration for discontinuous reception control onthe second carrier.

The first measuring unit 102C performs measurement processing such ascell search, measurement, or radio link monitoring on the first carrier.

As described above, the first measuring unit 102C may be configured notto perform measurement processing such as cell search, measurement, orradio link monitoring during the predetermined intervals (i.e. gapintervals for the on-duration) provided before and after the on-durationfor discontinuous reception control on the second carrier.

The second communicating unit 104 performs communications related to thesecond carrier. For example, the second communicating unit 104 performsdownlink reception and uplink transmission on the second carrier, andcell search, measurement, radio link monitoring, or the like on thesecond carrier.

As described above, the second communicating unit 104 may be configurednot to perform communications related to the second carrier during thepredetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

The second downlink receiving unit 104A receives downlink signals on thesecond carrier. For example, the downlink signals may be the PDSCH orthe PDCCH. Alternatively, the downlink signals may be signals on theP-BCH as broadcast information, signals on the PSS (PrimarySynchronization Signal) or the SSS (Secondary Synchronization Signal) assynchronization signals, or downlink reference signals.

As described above, the second downlink receiving unit 104A may beconfigured not to receive downlink signals on the second carrier duringthe predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

The second uplink transmitting unit 104B transmits uplink signals on thesecond carrier. For example, the uplink signals may be signals on thePUSCH or the PUCCH. Alternatively, the uplink signals may be soundingreference signals, demodulation reference signals, or signals on therandom access channel.

As described above, the second uplink transmitting unit 104B may beconfigured not to transmit uplink signals on the second carrier duringthe predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

The second measuring unit 104C performs measurement processing such ascell search, measurement, or radio link monitoring on the secondcarrier.

The second measuring unit 104C may perform measurement processing suchas cell search, measurement, or radio link monitoring on the secondcarrier during the predetermined interval provided before theon-duration among the predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals forthe on-duration) provided before and after the on-duration fordiscontinuous reception control on the second carrier. It should benoted that the measurement may include measurement of a path loss asdescribed below.

The reason why the second measuring unit 104C performs measurementprocessing such as cell search, measurement, or radio link monitoring onthe second carrier during the predetermined interval provided before theon-duration among the predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals forthe on-duration) provided before and after the on-duration fordiscontinuous reception control on the second carrier is describedbelow.

For example, it is assumed that data to be transmitted are generatedwhen the second carrier is in a discontinuous reception state and uplinktransmission occurs on the on-duration. In this case, it is preferablethat transmission power for the uplink transmission be determined basedon the latest possible path loss. When the path loss is measured in theon-duration, it is difficult to use the measurement result of the pathloss to determine transmission power for the uplink transmission becauseof processing delay. On the other hand, when the path loss is measuredduring the interval provided before the on-duration, transmission powerfor the uplink transmission can be determined based on the latest pathloss, and as a result, communication quality can be improved.

In this example, measuring the path loss during the interval providedbefore the on-duration means measuring downlink reference signalreceived power (RSRP) (so-called measurement) during the intervalprovided before the on-duration, because the path loss is estimatedbased on the downlink RSRP.

In addition to measurement of RSRP (so-called measurement), it ispreferable that cell search and radio link monitoring be performedduring the interval provided before the on-duration in order to performthe processing based on the measurement result in the subsequenton-duration.

During the interval provided after the on-duration, processing such asthe change of the center frequency of the receiver is performed. On theother hand, during the interval provided before the on-duration,processing such as cell search, measurement, and radio link monitoringon the second carrier is performed as described above. Thus, theinterval provided before the on-duration may be longer than the intervalprovided after the on-duration.

In this manner, the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB mayperform communication processing on the first carrier, assuming thatdata transmission and reception on the first carrier are not allowedduring a first gap interval for the on-duration provided before theon-duration for discontinuous reception control on the second carrierand during a second gap interval for the on-duration provided after theon-duration for discontinuous reception control on the second carrier.The first gap interval for the on-duration may be longer than the secondgap interval for the on-duration.

Communication control on the first carrier may be performed assumingthat the first gap interval for the on-duration and the second gapinterval for the on-duration are equivalent to measurement gaps. Inother words, communications on the first carrier may be suspendedassuming that the first gap interval for the on-duration and the secondgap interval for the on-duration are equivalent to measurement gaps.

The DRX control unit 106 is configured to manage whether the mobilestation UE is in a discontinuous reception state. More specifically, theDRX control unit 106 is configured to manage whether the mobile stationUE is in a discontinuous state on each of the first carrier and thesecond carrier. The DRX control unit 106 provides whether the mobilestation UE is in a discontinuous state (i.e. whether the mobile stationUE is in a discontinuous state or in a non-discontinuous state) on eachof the first carrier and the second carrier and its on-duration to thefirst communicating unit 102 (the first downlink receiving unit 102A,the first uplink transmitting unit 102B, and the first measuring unit102C), the second communicating unit 104 (the second downlink receivingunit 104A, the second uplink transmitting unit 104B, and the secondmeasuring unit 104C), and the gap control unit 108.

The gap control unit 108 controls a measurement gap. More specifically,the gap control unit 108 manages a measurement gap for measuring acarrier with a different frequency or a carrier for a different radiocommunication system. The gap control unit 108 provides informationabout a sub-carrier in which the measurement gap is provided to the DRXcontrol unit 106, the first communicating unit 102 (the first downlinkreceiving unit 102A, the first uplink transmitting unit 102B, and thefirst measuring unit 102C), and the second communicating unit 104 (thesecond downlink receiving unit 104A, the second uplink transmitting unit104B, and the second measuring unit 104C).

In addition to the control of the measurement gap, the gap control unit108 also manages and controls receiver change intervals (i.e. gapintervals for the on-duration) as described above. More specifically,the gap control unit 108 determines intervals (i.e. gap intervals forthe on-duration) provided before and after the on-duration fordiscontinuous reception control on the second carrier and provides thegap intervals for the on-duration to the DRX control unit 106, the firstcommunicating unit 102 (the first downlink receiving unit 102A, thefirst uplink transmitting unit 102B, and the first measuring unit 102C),and the second communicating unit 104 (the second downlink receivingunit 104A, the second uplink transmitting unit 104B, and the secondmeasuring unit 104C).

As shown in FIG. 8, a radio base station eNB includes a firstcommunicating unit 202, a second communicating unit 204, a DRX controlunit 206, and a gap unit 208. The first communicating unit 202 includesa first downlink transmitting unit 202A and a first uplink receivingunit 202B. The second communicating unit 204 includes a second downlinktransmitting unit 204A and a second uplink receiving unit 204B. Thefirst communicating unit 202, the first downlink transmitting unit 202A,the first uplink receiving unit 202B, the second communicating unit 204,the second downlink transmitting unit 204A, the second uplink receivingunit 204B, the DRX control unit 206, and the gap control unit 208 areconnected with each other.

The first communicating unit 202 performs communications related to afirst carrier. For example, the first communicating unit 202 performsdownlink transmission and uplink reception on the first carrier.

As described above, the first communicating unit 202 may be configurednot to perform communications related to the first carrier duringpredetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on a second carrier.

The first downlink transmitting unit 202A transmits uplink signals onthe first carrier. For example, the downlink signals may be the PDSCH orthe PDCCH. Alternatively, the downlink signals may be signals on theP-BCH as broadcast information, signals on the PSS (PrimarySynchronization Signal) or the SSS (Secondary Synchronization Signal) assynchronization signals, or downlink reference signals.

As described above, the first downlink transmitting unit 202A may beconfigured not to transmit downlink signals on the first carrier duringthe predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

Alternatively, the first downlink transmitting unit 202A may performscheduling such that a mobile station UE does not receive downlinksignals during the gap intervals for the on-duration. The schedulingincludes processing for selecting a mobile station UE which communicatesusing the shared channel in a certain sub-frame.

The first uplink receiving unit 202B receives uplink signals on thefirst carrier. For example, the uplink signals may be signals on thePUSCH or the PUCCH. Alternatively, the uplink signals may be soundingreference signals, demodulation reference signals, or signals on arandom access channel.

As described above, the first uplink receiving unit 202B may beconfigured not to receive uplink signals on the first carrier during thepredetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

Alternatively, the first uplink receiving unit 202B may performscheduling such that a mobile station UE does not transmit uplinksignals during the gap intervals for the on-duration. The schedulingincludes processing for selecting a mobile station UE which communicatesusing the shared channel in a certain sub-frame. More specifically, thefirst uplink receiving unit 202B may be configured not to transmit ascheduling grant to a mobile station UE in the corresponding sub-framein downlink such that the mobile station UE does not transmit uplinksignals during the gap intervals for the on-duration. The uplinkscheduling grant may be transmitted via the first downlink transmittingunit 202A.

The second communicating unit 204 performs communications related to thesecond carrier. For example, the second communicating unit 204 performsdownlink transmission, uplink reception, or the like on the secondcarrier.

As described above, the second communicating unit 204 may be configurednot to perform communications related to the second carrier during thepredetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

The second downlink transmitting unit 204A transmits downlink signals onthe second carrier. For example, the downlink signals may be the PDSCHor the PDCCH. Alternatively, the downlink signals may be signals on theP-BCH as broadcast information, signals on the PSS (PrimarySynchronization Signal) or the SSS (Secondary Synchronization Signal) assynchronization signals, or downlink reference signals.

As described above, the second downlink transmitting unit 204A may beconfigured not to transmit downlink signals on the second carrier duringthe predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

Alternatively, the second downlink transmitting unit 204A may performscheduling such that a mobile station UE does not receive downlinksignals during the gap intervals for the on-duration. The schedulingincludes processing for selecting a mobile station UE which communicatesusing the shared channel in a certain sub-frame.

The second uplink receiving unit 204B receives uplink signals on thesecond carrier. For example, the uplink signals may be signals on thePUSCH or the PUSCH. Alternatively, the uplink signals may be soundingreference signals, demodulation reference signals, or signals on therandom access channel.

As described above, the second uplink receiving unit 204B may beconfigured not to receive uplink signals on the second carrier duringthe predetermined intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)provided before and after the on-duration for discontinuous receptioncontrol on the second carrier.

Alternatively, the second uplink receiving unit 204B may performscheduling such that a mobile station UE does not transmit uplinksignals during the gap intervals for the on-duration. The schedulingincludes processing for selecting a mobile station UE which communicatesusing the shared channel in a certain sub-frame. More specifically, thesecond uplink receiving unit 204B may be configured not to transmit ascheduling grant to a mobile station UE in the corresponding sub-framein downlink such that the mobile station UE does not transmit uplinksignals during the gap intervals for the on-duration. The uplinkscheduling grant may be transmitted via the second downlink transmittingunit 204A.

The DRX control unit 206 is configured to manage and control whethereach mobile station UE within the cell is in a discontinuous receptionstate. More specifically, the DRX control unit 206 is configured tomanage and control whether each mobile station UE within the cell is ina discontinuous state on each of the first carrier and the secondcarrier. The DRX control unit 206 provides whether each mobile stationUE within the cell is in a discontinuous state (i.e. whether each mobilestation UE within the cell is in a discontinuous state or in anon-discontinuous state) on each of the first carrier and the secondcarrier and its on-duration to the first communicating unit 202 (thefirst downlink transmitting unit 202A and the first uplink receivingunit 202B), the second communicating unit 204 (the second downlinktransmitting unit 204A and the second uplink receiving unit 204B), andthe gap control unit 208.

The gap control unit 208 controls a measurement gap. More specifically,the gap control unit 208 manages a measurement gap for measuring acarrier with a different frequency or a carrier for a different radiocommunication system. The gap control unit 208 provides informationabout a sub-carrier in which the measurement gap is provided to the DRXcontrol unit 206, the first communicating unit 202 (the first downlinktransmitting unit 202A and the first uplink receiving unit 202B), andthe second communicating unit 204 (the second downlink transmitting unit204A and the second uplink receiving unit 204B).

In addition to the control of the measurement gap, the gap control unit208 also manages and controls receiver change intervals (i.e. gapintervals for the on-duration) as described above. More specifically,the gap control unit 208 determines intervals (i.e. gap intervals forthe on-duration) provided before and after the on-duration fordiscontinuous reception control on the second carrier and provides thegap intervals for the on-duration to the DRX control unit 206, the firstcommunicating unit 202 (the first downlink transmitting unit 202A andthe first uplink receiving unit 202B), and the second communicating unit204 (the second downlink transmitting unit 204A and the second uplinkreceiving unit 204B).

With reference to FIG. 9, a communication control method in a mobilestation UE in accordance with this embodiment is described below.

At step S302, the mobile station UE determines whether this sub-frame isincluded in gap intervals (i.e. gap intervals for the on-duration)before and after the on-duration on a secondary component carrier(Secondary CC). The Secondary CC corresponds to the second carrier asdescribed above.

When this sub-frame is included in the gap intervals before and afterthe on-duration on the Secondary CC (step S302: YES), the mobile stationUE does not perform uplink transmission and downlink reception on aprimary component carrier (Primary CC) in this sub-frame (step S304).The Primary CC corresponds to the first carrier as described above.

When this sub-frame is not included in the gap intervals before andafter the on-duration on the Secondary CC (step S302: NO), the mobilestation UE performs uplink transmission and downlink reception on thePrimary CC in this sub-frame as usual (step S306).

With reference to FIG. 10, a communication control method in a mobilestation UE in accordance with this embodiment is described below.

At step S402, the mobile station UE determines whether this sub-frame isincluded in a gap interval before the on-duration on the Secondary CC.

When this sub-frame is included in the gap interval before theon-duration on the Secondary CC (step S402: YES), the mobile station UEcalculates a path loss on the Secondary CC in this sub-frame (stepS404).

When this sub-frame is not included in the gap interval before theon-duration on the Secondary CC (step S402: NO), the mobile station UEcalculates a path loss based on normal control operations (this step isnot shown in the flowchart because this step corresponds to normalcontrol operations). Although

FIG. 10 shows that the path loss is calculated in step S404, cellsearch, measurement of RSRP, radio link monitoring, or the like may bealternatively performed.

With reference to FIG. 11, a communication control method in a radiobase station eNB in accordance with this embodiment is described below.

At step S502, the radio base station eNB determines whether thissub-frame is included in gap intervals (i.e. gap intervals for theon-duration) before and after the on-duration on a secondary componentcarrier (Secondary CC) for a mobile station UE. The Secondary CCcorresponds to the second carrier as described above.

When this sub-frame is included in the gap intervals before and afterthe on-duration on the Secondary CC for the mobile station UE (stepS502: YES), the radio base station eNB does not perform uplink receptionfrom the mobile station UE and downlink transmission to the mobilestation UE on a primary component carrier (Primary CC) in this sub-frame(step S504). The Primary CC corresponds to the first carrier asdescribed above.

When this sub-frame is not included in the gap intervals before andafter the on-duration on the Secondary CC (step S502: NO), the radiobase station eNB performs uplink reception from the mobile station UEand downlink transmission to the mobile station UE on the Primary CC inthis sub-frame as usual (step S506).

With reference to FIG. 12, a communication control method in a radiobase station eNB in accordance with this embodiment is described below.

At step S602, the radio base station eNB determines whether thissub-frame is included in gap intervals (i.e. gap intervals for theon-duration) before and after the on-duration on a secondary componentcarrier (Secondary CC) for a mobile station UE. The Secondary CCcorresponds to the second carrier as described above.

When this sub-frame is included in the gap intervals before and afterthe on-duration on the Secondary CC (step S602: YES), the radio basestation eNB performs scheduling such that downlink transmission to themobile station UE and uplink reception from the mobile station UE arenot performed on a Primary CC (step S604). The Primary CC corresponds tothe first carrier as described above.

When this sub-frame is not included in the gap intervals before andafter the on-duration on the Secondary CC (step S602: NO), the radiobase station eNB performs uplink scheduling and downlink scheduling forthe mobile station UE in this sub-frame as usual.

Although only the second carrier is in the DRX state in these examples,there may be plural carriers in the DRX state. For example, the firstcarrier may be in the Non-DRX state, and the second carrier and a thirdcarrier may be in the DRX state. In this example, the on-duration on thesecond carrier is the same as (in common with) the on-duration on thethird carrier. In other words, when there are plural component carriersin the DRX state, the on-duration on each component carrier may be thesame.

Although these examples treat, as measurement gaps, intervals before andafter the ON interval (on-duration) for DRX when the second carrier asthe secondary component carrier is in the DRX state regarding theoperations in the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNB, ameasurement interval may be defined for measuring the second carrierwhen the second carrier as the secondary component carrier is in ade-activated state (i.e. the second carrier is not activated), andintervals before and after the measurement interval may be defined asmeasurement gaps. In this case, the first interval and the last intervalduring the measurement interval, rather than the intervals before andafter the measurement interval, may be treated as measurement gaps. Themeasurement interval for measuring the second carrier may be appliedonly when the second carrier is in a de-activated state but not appliedwhen the second carrier is in an activated state, in a similar manner tothe ON interval (on-duration) for DRX.

In other words, a mobile station, a radio base station, and acommunication control method in accordance with this embodiment are notlimited to the case where the secondary component carrier is in the DRXstate, but may be applied to the case where the secondary componentcarrier is in the de-activated state. In addition, a mobile station, aradio base station, and a communication control method in accordancewith this embodiment are not limited to the case where the secondarycomponent carrier is in the DRX state or in the Non-DRX state, but maybe applied to the case where the secondary component carrier is in astate in which communications are always performed or in a state inwhich communications are intermittently performed. For example, thestate in which communications are intermittently performed may include astate where monitoring of control signals, cell search, or measurementis intermittently performed and usual data communications are notperformed.

Effects of a mobile station UE, a radio base station eNB, acommunication control method in accordance with this embodiment aredescribed below.

Treating the intervals before and after the on-duration on the secondcarrier in which DRX is applied as gap intervals equivalent tomeasurement gaps allows the radio base station eNB and the mobilestation UE to explicitly suspend uplink and downlink communications onthe first carrier. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation where themobile station UE loses packets while not managed by the radio basestation eNB.

When the second carrier changes from the DRX state to the Non-DRX state,the on-duration is not provided in the Non-DRX state, and thus theaccompanied gap durations are not provided. As a result, when both thefirst carrier and the second carrier are in the Non-DRX state, the lossof throughput due to the gap intervals can be reduced.

In addition, gap intervals suitable for discontinuous reception controlcan be defined compared to the conventional measurement gaps. Byminimizing the length of the gap intervals, throughput on the firstcarrier can be improved.

Furthermore, by defining the interval before the on-duration longer thanthe interval after the on-duration, the mobile station UE can measure apath loss before the on-duration, and thus the accuracy of transmissionpower of uplink transmission in the on-duration can be improved.

Modified Embodiment

A modified embodiment of the present invention is described below interms of a mobile station UE, a radio base station eNB, and acommunication control method.

In this modified embodiment, a measurement interval for a secondarycomponent carrier (SCC) including four intervals as shown in FIG. 13 isused, rather than the on-duration and the intervals before and after theon-duration as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

These four intervals may be referred to as a first interval, a secondinterval, a third interval, and a fourth interval in order of time. Themeasurement interval for the SCC is applied only when the second carrieris in the DRX state in a similar manner to the on-duration and theintervals before and after the on-duration as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

For example, the lengths of the first interval, the second interval, thethird interval, and the fourth interval may be defined as 2 ms, 4 ms, 5ms, and 2 ms, respectively. Alternatively, the lengths of the firstinterval, the second interval, the third interval, and the fourthinterval may be defined as any value other than these values.

The first interval and the fourth interval of the measurement intervalfor the SCC is equal to the intervals before and after the on-durationas described above. In other words, the first interval and the fourthinterval are treated as time intervals during which the receiver in themobile station UE changes the center frequency or the like, and duringwhich communications on the first carrier are not performed.Communications on the first carrier are not performed during the firstinterval and the fourth interval because the first interval and thefourth interval are treated as measurement gaps. In this manner, theradio base station eNB and the mobile station UE do not performcommunications on the first carrier during the first interval and thefourth interval. For the same reason, communications on the secondcarrier are not performed during the first interval and the fourthinterval.

The second interval and the third interval of the measurement intervalfor the SCC are equivalent to the on-duration from the viewpoint of thefirst carrier. During the second interval and the third interval, thereceiver in the mobile station UE is in a state shown in FIG. 2 andcommunications on the first carrier are performed. In other words, theradio base station eNB and the mobile station UE perform communicationson the first carrier during the second interval and the third interval.In this manner, the second interval and the third interval are treatedas usual intervals rather than measurement gaps on the first carrier andcommunications on the first carrier are performed.

On the other hand, the second interval and the third interval are alsoequivalent to the on-duration from the viewpoint of the second carrier.However, when the second carrier is in the de-activation state, themobile station UE performs measurement such as cell search, measurement(so-called measurement), and measurement of a path loss for the servingcell on the second carrier with a low frequency. It is preferable thatmeasurement on the second carrier be performed again beforecommunications in order to improve the accuracy of the measurement andimprove communication quality. Thus, during the second interval of themeasurement interval for the SCC, the mobile station UE performsmeasurement on the second carrier and communications on the secondcarrier are not performed between the mobile station UE and the radiobase station eNB. In other words, the radio base station eNB and themobile station UE do not perform communications on the second carrierduring the second interval. Then, during the third interval of themeasurement interval for the SCC, communications on the second carrierare performed. In other words, the radio base station eNB and the mobilestation UE perform communications on the second carrier during the thirdinterval. It should be noted that the mobile station UE may performmeasurement on the second carrier during the third interval of themeasurement interval for the SCC.

In this manner, during the second interval of the measurement intervalfor the SCC, the mobile station UE performs cell search, measurement(so-called measurement), and measurement of a path loss on the secondcarrier and does not perform uplink transmission and downlink receptionon the second carrier. During the third interval of the measurementinterval for the SCC, the mobile station UE performs uplink transmissionand downlink reception on the second carrier. During the second intervalof the measurement interval for the SCC, the radio base station eNB doesnot perform uplink reception and downlink transmission on the secondcarrier. During the third interval of the measurement interval for theSCC, the radio base station eNB performs uplink reception and downlinktransmission on the second carrier.

Since measurement of a path loss as described above is not necessary fordownlink communications, downlink communications may be performed duringboth the second interval and the third interval. In this case, onlyuplink communications are not performed during the second interval. Inother words, during the second interval of the measurement interval forthe SCC, the mobile station UE performs cell search, measurement(so-called measurement), measurement of a path loss, and downlinkreception on the second carrier, but does not perform uplinktransmission on the second carrier. During the third interval of themeasurement interval for the SCC, the mobile station UE performs bothuplink transmission and downlink reception on the second carrier. Duringthe second interval of the measurement interval for the SCC, the radiobase station eNB performs downlink transmission on the second carrier,but does not perform uplink reception on the second carrier. During thethird interval of the measurement interval for the SCC, the radio basestation eNB performs both uplink reception and downlink transmission onthe second carrier.

In the modified embodiment, the on-duration is divided into twoportions, one of which is used for measurement on the second carrier andthe other of which is used for communications on the second carrier.Regarding the first carrier, both of the two portions formed by dividingthe on-duration are used for communications on the first carrier.Communications on the second carrier may be transmission of uplink datasignals triggered by an uplink scheduling grant or transmission ofdownlink data signals notified in downlink scheduling information. Inthis manner, whether communications are allowed in the measurementinterval for the SCC may be determined by defining whether an uplinkscheduling grant or downlink scheduling information is transmitted andalso defining the first period, the second period, the third period, andthe fourth period of the measurement interval for the SCC.

The features of the embodiments as described above may be expressed asfollows.

(Item 1) A mobile station for communicating with a radio base stationusing two or more carriers, comprising:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein

the first communicating unit treats intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

(Item 2) The mobile station as claimed in Item 1, wherein

the first communicating unit comprises

a first downlink receiving unit configured to perform downlink receptionon the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state;

a first uplink transmitting unit configured to perform uplinktransmission on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state;

a first measuring unit configured to perform measurement on the carrierin the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a first monitoring unit configured to perform radio link monitoring onthe carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

the second communicating unit comprises

a second downlink receiving unit configured to perform downlinkreception on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state;

a second uplink transmitting unit configured to perform uplinktransmission on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state;

a second measuring unit configured to perform measurement on the carrierin the discontinuous reception state; and

a second monitoring unit configured to perform radio link monitoring onthe carrier in the discontinuous reception state.

(Item 3) The mobile station as claimed in Item 1, wherein

the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state comprise at leastone of

a carrier in a state in which a parameter associated with discontinuousreception control is not configured,

a carrier in a state in which a parameter associated with discontinuousreception control is configured and a timer for discontinuous receptioncontrol is in an operating state,

a carrier in a state in which a parameter associated with discontinuousreception control is configured and a scheduling request is in a pendingstate,

a carrier in a state in which a parameter associated with discontinuousreception control is configured and a timing for uplink HARQretransmission is provided, and

a carrier in a state in which a parameter associated with discontinuousreception control is configured and a downlink control signal forinitial transmission destined for the mobile station is not receivedafter a random access response for a specified preamble is received,

the carrier in the discontinuous reception state comprises a carrier ina state other than these states.

(Item 4) The mobile station as claimed in Item 1, wherein

the measurement gap is a time interval provided for measuring a carrierwith a different frequency or a carrier for a different radiocommunication system.

(Item 5) The mobile station as claimed in Item 1, wherein

the first communicating unit does not perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state during the intervalsbefore and after the on-duration.

(Item 6) The mobile station as claimed in Item 2, wherein

the first uplink transmitting unit does not perform uplink transmissionon the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state during theintervals before and after the on-duration.

(Item 7) The mobile station as claimed in Item 1, wherein

regarding the intervals before and after the on-duration, the intervalbefore the on-duration is longer than the interval after theon-duration.

(Item 8) A communication control method in a mobile station forcommunicating with a radio base station using two or more carriers,comprising:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first step of performing communications on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; and

a second step of performing communications on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; wherein

the first step comprises treating intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

(Item 9) A radio base station for communicating with a mobile stationusing two or more carriers, comprising:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein

the first communicating unit treats intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

(Item 10) The radio base station as claimed in Item 9, wherein

the first communicating unit comprises

a first downlink transmitting unit configured to perform downlinktransmission on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state;and

a first uplink receiving unit configured to perform uplink reception onthe carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

the second communicating unit comprises

a second downlink transmitting unit configured to perform downlinktransmission on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state; and

a second uplink receiving unit configured to perform uplink reception onthe carrier in the discontinuous reception state.

(Item 11) The radio base station as claimed in Item 9, wherein

the first communicating unit does not perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state during the intervalsbefore and after the on-duration.

(Item 12) The radio base station as claimed in Item 10, wherein

the first downlink transmitting unit performs uplink and downlinkscheduling such that communications are not performed on the carrier inthe non-discontinuous reception state.

(Item 13) The radio base station as claimed in Item 9, wherein

regarding the intervals before and after the on-duration, the intervalbefore the on-duration is longer than the interval after theon-duration.

(Item 14) A communication control method in a radio base station forcommunicating with a mobile station using two or more carriers,comprising:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first step of performing communications on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; and

a second step of performing communications on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; wherein

the first step comprises treating intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.

(Item 15) A mobile station for communicating with a radio base stationusing two or more carriers, comprising:

where the two or more carriers include a carrier in a non-discontinuousreception state and a carrier in a discontinuous reception state,

a first communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and

a second communicating unit configured to perform communications on thecarrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein

the second communicating unit treats intervals before and after anon-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps and performs measurement on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state during the interval before the on-durationon the carrier in the discontinuous reception state.

The operations in the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNBas described above may be applied to a mobile station, a radio basestation, or a control station in a system other than the LTE-Advancedsystem. For example, the operations may be applied to a mobile station,a radio base station, or a control station in an LTE system, a WCDMAsystem, a CDMA 2000 system, or a WiMAX system.

The operations in the mobile station UE and the radio base station eNBas described above may be implemented as hardware, a software moduleexecuted by a processor, or a combination of them.

The software module may be stored in a storage medium of any type, suchas a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electronically erasableand programmable ROM (EEPROM), a register, a hard disk, a removabledisk, or a CD-ROM.

The storage medium is connected to a processor in order for theprocessor to read and write information in the storage medium.Alternatively, the storage medium may be integrated in the processor.Alternatively, the storage medium and the processor may be included inan application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC may beincluded in a mobile station UE and a radio base station eNB.Alternatively, the storage medium and the processor may be included in amobile station UE and a radio base station eNB as a discrete component.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described, aperson skilled in the art clearly understands that the present inventionis not limited to the embodiments described in the specification. Thepresent invention can be modified or changed without departing from theintention and the scope of the present invention defined by the claims.Thus, the specification is provided for the purpose of illustration andshould not be treated as limiting the present invention.

This international patent application is based on Japanese PriorityApplication No. 2010-113691 filed on May 17, 2010 and Japanese PriorityApplication No. 2010-118833 filed on May 24, 2010, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference.

DESCRIPTION OF NOTATIONS

-   -   UE mobile station    -   102 first communicating unit    -   102A first downlink receiving unit    -   102B first uplink transmitting unit    -   102C first measuring unit    -   104A second downlink receiving unit    -   104B second uplink transmitting unit    -   104C second measuring unit    -   106 DRX control unit    -   108 gap control unit    -   eNB radio base station    -   202A first downlink transmitting unit    -   202B first uplink receiving unit    -   204A second downlink transmitting unit    -   204B second uplink receiving unit    -   206 DRX control unit    -   208 gap control unit

1. A mobile station for communicating with a radio base station usingtwo or more carriers, comprising: where the two or more carriers includea carrier in a non-discontinuous reception state and a carrier in adiscontinuous reception state, a first communicating unit configured toperform communications on the carrier in the non-discontinuous receptionstate; and a second communicating unit configured to performcommunications on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state;wherein the first communicating unit treats intervals before and afteran on-duration on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state asmeasurement gaps.
 2. The mobile station as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe first communicating unit comprises a first downlink receiving unitconfigured to perform downlink reception on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; a first uplink transmitting unitconfigured to perform uplink transmission on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; a first measuring unit configured toperform measurement on the carrier in the non-discontinuous receptionstate; and a first monitoring unit configured to perform radio linkmonitoring on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; andthe second communicating unit comprises a second downlink receiving unitconfigured to perform downlink reception on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; a second uplink transmitting unitconfigured to perform uplink transmission on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; a second measuring unit configured toperform measurement on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state;and a second monitoring unit configured to perform radio link monitoringon the carrier in the discontinuous reception state.
 3. The mobilestation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state comprises at least one of a carrier ina state in which a parameter associated with discontinuous receptioncontrol is not configured, a carrier in a state in which a parameterassociated with discontinuous reception control is configured and atimer for discontinuous reception control is in an operating state, acarrier in a state in which a parameter associated with discontinuousreception control is configured and a scheduling request is in a pendingstate, a carrier in a state in which a parameter associated withdiscontinuous reception control is configured and a timing for uplinkHARQ retransmission is provided, and a carrier in a state in which aparameter associated with discontinuous reception control is configuredand a downlink control signal for initial transmission destined for themobile station is not received after a random access response for aspecified preamble is received, the carrier in the discontinuousreception state comprises a carrier in a state other than these states.4. The mobile station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measurement gapis a time interval provided for measuring a carrier with a differentfrequency or a carrier for a different radio communication system. 5.The mobile station as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstcommunicating unit does not perform communications on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state during the intervals before and afterthe on-duration.
 6. The mobile station as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe first uplink transmitting unit does not perform uplink transmissionon the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state during theintervals before and after the on-duration.
 7. The mobile station asclaimed in claim 1, wherein regarding the intervals before and after theon-duration, the interval before the on-duration is longer than theinterval after the on-duration.
 8. A communication control method in amobile station for communicating with a radio base station using two ormore carriers, comprising: where the two or more carriers include acarrier in a non-discontinuous reception state and a carrier in adiscontinuous reception state, a first step of performing communicationson the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state; and a secondstep of performing communications on the carrier in the discontinuousreception state; wherein the first step comprises treating intervalsbefore and after an on-duration on the carrier in the discontinuousreception state as measurement gaps.
 9. A radio base station forcommunicating with a mobile station using two or more carriers,comprising: where the two or more carriers include a carrier in anon-discontinuous reception state and a carrier in a discontinuousreception state, a first communicating unit configured to performcommunications on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state;and a second communicating unit configured to perform communications onthe carrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein the firstcommunicating unit treats intervals before and after an on-duration onthe carrier in the discontinuous reception state as measurement gaps.10. The radio base station as claimed in claim 9, wherein the firstcommunicating unit comprises a first downlink transmitting unitconfigured to perform downlink transmission on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; and a first uplink receiving unitconfigured to perform uplink reception on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state; and the second communicating unitcomprises a second downlink transmitting unit configured to performdownlink transmission on the carrier in the discontinuous receptionstate; and a second uplink receiving unit configured to perform uplinkreception on the carrier in the discontinuous reception state.
 11. Theradio base station as claimed in claim 9, wherein the firstcommunicating unit does not perform communications on the carrier in thenon-discontinuous reception state during the intervals before and afterthe on-duration.
 12. The radio base station as claimed in claim 10,wherein the first downlink transmitting unit performs uplink anddownlink scheduling such that communications are not performed on thecarrier in the non-discontinuous reception state.
 13. The radio basestation as claimed in claim 9, wherein regarding the intervals beforeand after the on-duration, the interval before the on-duration is longerthan the interval after the on-duration.
 14. A communication controlmethod in a radio base station for communicating with a mobile stationusing two or more carriers, comprising: where the two or more carriersinclude a carrier in a non-discontinuous reception state and a carrierin a discontinuous reception state, a first step of performingcommunications on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state;and a second step of performing communications on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state; wherein the first step comprises treatingintervals before and after an on-duration on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state as measurement gaps.
 15. A mobile stationfor communicating with a radio base station using two or more carriers,comprising: where the two or more carriers include a carrier in anon-discontinuous reception state and a carrier in a discontinuousreception state, a first communicating unit configured to performcommunications on the carrier in the non-discontinuous reception state;and a second communicating unit configured to perform communications onthe carrier in the discontinuous reception state; wherein the secondcommunicating unit treats intervals before and after an on-duration onthe carrier in the discontinuous reception state as measurement gaps andperforms measurement on the carrier in the discontinuous reception stateduring the interval before the on-duration on the carrier in thediscontinuous reception state.